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Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider

Family: Theraphosidae

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Pterinochilus murinusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Russ Gurley

     Not only does the Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider have a tough attitude,... it has a tough constitution! Very hardy and adaptable in captivity.

     A very handsome African tarantula, the Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider comes from the dry savanna scrublands. For the most part they have an overall golden shade. Variations in this coloring, ranging from tan to a bright gold, are thought to be accorded to each tarantula's geographic location.
     Though this is one of the most common African tarantulas available, there are numerous color morphs. Many that are available may not actually be this particular species of Pterinochilus.

     The name Starburst Baboon Spider actually encompass several species that were imported during the 1990s from Africa. They all have the typical body form but vary in color from grays and black to pale mustard yellow to bright orange. Taxonomy is no doubt confusing and is in flux these days. The most popular specimens seem to be the bright golden orange specimens.

     The Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider is a terrestrial species that can live just about anywhere. They tend to be a burrowing spider if the conditions support this, lining their burrow with silk. If the substrate is not adequate for a burrow they will construct their webs anywhere they can. This spider is very fast and aggressive. It will bite if provoked.

For more Information on keeping tarantulas see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Invertebrate

Distribution:      The Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider is an African tarantula found in Zaire, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Description:      The true Sunburst Baboon Spider is bright mustard yellow with clean, dark markings. These markings include the characteristic starburst pattern on the cephalothora. Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spiders are medium sized with up to a 6" (15 cm) leg span. Mature males, howeve, moult out at a very small size usually in the 2 - 3" (5 - 7.5 cm) range. Males are slender and long-legged compared to females and they have no tibial hooks for mating.
     These spiders are fast growers, a male can mature in under a year with females taking a little longer. They are not as long lived as some of the other tarantulas, having a probably life span of only about 8 to 12 years.

Care and Feeding:      In the wild their prey includes insects, lizards, mice, and other small animals. In captivity the Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider will do well on a diverse diet consisting of adult crickets, grasshoppers, Tenebrio larvae, and only occasional feedings (once or twice a month) of mice.

Environment:      The Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spiders live in heavily webbed burrows and are probably one of the most opportunistic of the Theraphosids. They are found in bushes and low trees, in burrows under rocks, in vacated animal burrows, under dog houses and sidewalks, and near human habitation. They commonly find a suitable opening and line it with large sheets of web. As they grow, they add exit holes and often an area to pick up vibrations or to funnel passing prey into close proximity. .

Temperature and Humidity requirements:      This species can be maintained at about at 77 ° to 86 ° F and a humidity of 40 to 60%. They are native to the drier regions of east Africa so need less moisture than many tarantulas. It is reported that even a moist substrate can affect them adversely.

Social Behavior/Activities:      This spider is very fast and aggressive. If it is provoked it will readily display and bite. In general tarantulas do best if they are housed singly and this works as well for Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spiders. But despite their tough attitude with humans, they will readily mate.

Handling:      This species is very aggressive / defensive and should not be handled under any circumstances. The bite can be medically significant for some people. We suggest using a paint brush or other tool to corral the Baboon Spider and to move it from enclosure to enclosure for cleaning, maintenance, or for breeding attempts.

Breeding/Reproduction:      The Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon Spider has proven very easy to breed in captivity. As with most Pterinochilus species, mature males moult out quite small compared to females. They are usually only in the 2 to 3" (5 - 7.5 cm) range. They are slender and long-legged compared to females and they have no tibial hooks for mating. This size difference ultimately leads to their demise post-mating.
     Adult males should be carefully introduced into the female's enclosure after he has produced a sperm web. The male can be protected with a piece of cardboard or other tool if he is to be used for further breeding attempts. Once mating occurs, the female should be fed more heavily and a variety of prey items.
     Females tend to be very protective of their egg sacs and the young. Their egg sacs hold up well and hatch without much "motherly" attention, simply resting in a hammock in the female's webbed enclosure. Egg sacs commonly contain between 75 and 100 spiderlings that hatch in about five weeks. Often a second egg sac will be produced in a few months without an additional mating, this is called 'double-clutching'. Once hatched the spiderlings are easily raised. They are hardy and grow quickly.

Ailments:      Tarantulas are generally quite hardy and adaptable if they are provided with the right environment. A few signs that may indicate that your pet is not acting or feeling normal are a loss of appetite, lethargy, looking overly skinny, or pacing the enclosure.
     (A tarantula on its back is probably NOT sick.   Most tarantula species flip onto their backs during molting.   Though this is a very stressful and delicate time for tarantulas, if the humidity and warmth levels are correct, they will molt their exoskeleton, roll over, harden up, and within a week or two be ready for their next meals.)

• Molting: One of the most common reasons for your pet to demonstrate unusual behavior is due to a molting period. As they outgrow their existing skin all tarantulas regularly go through an extensive molt, shedding their entire skin as well as the linings of their mouth, respiratory organs, stomach and sexual organs.
       The process starts well before the actual molt. For several weeks prior to shedding they will be growing a new skin under their old one. During this time it is not unusual for a tarantula to get quite lethargic and even stop eating. There may also be lots of web spinning activity as they prepare to molt.
       When they begin to molt, they lay on their backs with their legs up in the air looking as if they are dead. Be sure not to disturb your tarantula when you see this. The shedding process goes quickly and smoothly as long the environment has adequate humidity.
       Once they have shed, their new skin is pale and very soft. The amount of time it takes for your pet to fully recover and be back to eating well will vary from a day or so up to several weeks depending on its size. Smaller spiders recover much quicker than larger ones.
• Other Problems: Other problems are usually the result of some type of environmental stress. There may be a drop in the temperature of the enclosure, there may be parasites, or the tarantula may just not be comfortable with the depth of its hiding place. These things can be easily adjusted or changed, or you can try moving your pet to a new enclosure.

Availability:      Baboon Spiders, and especially the genus Pterinochilus, have proven to be very hardy and quite prolific in captivity. Many species of Starburst Baboons are available on a regular basis by tarantula suppliers.

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Latest Comments
I recently bought a Rusty orange spider From my local pet shop, one I have not seen before. I was told it was a King Baboon Spider But now that I've been doing research, it is not. It is a Mombasa Golden Starburst Baboon. His/Her Legspan is about 3-4 inches right now, and is one Mean Mutha. He is so fast it's unbelievable. So agile, so quick. From what I hear they are great escape artists. I got him in a exo Terra cage with the glass opening doors 18x18x24H, any Insight? I'm A first time owner of an Arachnid as well. AlexKapper 2009-07-24
My friend has one named gloria and it's really surprising to read how aggresive they are. I don't know about you but it's the laziest pet in the house and hasn't displayed any aggresive behavior to the hundreds of people who've handled it in the 2-3 months he's had it. I hope it's not sick or anything. aimee 2009-03-04
i just bought my first orange babboon spider yesterday. I put him in a terrarium and somehow he escaped from the enclosure. I didn't realize he was out and I placed my hand right on top of the spider who was resting on top of the cage and I was bitten on the hand by my thumb. It felt like a wasp or hornet sting at first and started swelling instantly. Then it went from a painful sting to more of an itching feeling after a few minutes, and the swelling has gone down some because I have applied ice to the bite. I was actually bitten just about 30 min before I wrote this. I have always heard they packed one hell of a bite and I never thought I would have taken a bite from one. But now after taking a bite it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would have been. It' a juvenile spider and it is the, terinochilus sp]or usambura, tarburst babboon. jj seitz 2008-12-14
Hiya, I just thought I'd give you an update on my orange baboon bite. Over a week now and still getting random cramps, mainly legs, neck and lockjaw. Not much fun. Any sudden or awkward movements usually get a cramp response. May have a couple more weeks of this. Regards, terry terry 2008-09-05
Yesterday I got a baby Sunburst baboon tarantula at pet plaza. He is so cute. Already he ate a big cricket last night. When I woke up this morning I said, "wow, how can this little guy eat a cricket that's bigger than him". I also think he tried to make a vibration line to try and catch the cricket and he caught it. He has a little burrow with clumps of dirt over where he sits. The crickets always go to one of his three entrances and tease him until he turns around and starts to walk a little bit to them. When I came home today he was walking on the web then I guess he felt my vibrations and went back in. Dont you think thats a-lot to happen in two and a half days! Dimitri 2008-01-03
Some of the coolest comments:
I recently acquired my Starburst Mombassa, about 3 months ago, and was placed in a plastic vivarium-box-thing approximately 12"-wide, 18"-long and 7"-deep. For the most of this, she refused to accept any prey offered until recently she began heavily webbing. At first we thought she was preparing for moult, but then I watched how she sat there and got the thought to try some prey in there. Bang, straight away took it and devoured it fairly quickly (only a single hopper). I was speaking with a local exotic creature expert who claimed this species can apparently easily survive without food for up to a year (and has been documented as longer) though I cannot verify this. Mine is a fiesty and aggressive specimen. Every time I open the little plastic hatch in the lid either to offer prey or top up water or whatever, she will suddenly skitter across the entire tank and display or slap the paintbrush (if I'm prodding around) very aggressively. If provoked, she readily displays and if the provocation continues, she seems to 'drum' on her webs, which makes a very cute display! She is certainly one of the more active spiders I have seen (I've spent hours watching her burrowing and excavating (she tends to web an area of soil, then roll the webbed area into a ball, carry it off in her fangs and dump it to one side) and even just wondering), but do be careful. She is very agressive and much faster than you'd imagine a spider to be. B.Kelly 2008-12-21
I just had a night in hospital due to an orange baboon bite, no display, no warning just jumped and bit my index finger. Intense burning pain to finger followed by burning bruiselike feeling that progressed up to shoulder. Was put on oxygen and antibiotics. Pain eased after around 5 hours, finger was numb approx 12 hours during this. Heart rate and blood pressure went high, now approx 26 hrs later no pain to finger but there is to base of digit which showed bruising and am now getting random joint pain and cramps to legs arms and neck. Spider was not provoked in any way and I've kept various spiders for many years, this is my first time bite. Little knowledge around on reactions to bites so I thought I'd post this. I am male 51, 6ft, 18 stone, and never had any reaction to bee or wasp stings... Editor's Note: WOW! Thanks for sharing this important iformation! This knowledge can go a long way in helping other hobbyists be prepared and take preventative measures. terry 2008-08-29

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